It’s been a while. However, I have been energised by a couple of happenings.
If there is a must see film, it is “The End of the Line” about the horrific plundering of the oceans by corporate entities with no thought for others, conservation or the outcome with governments worldwide standing by and letting it happen.
We have all heard about the sad state of our bee colonies who appear to be dying off in huge numbers. If we do not have bees to pollenate, it will have a dramatic effect on the natural food chain. One expert put forward a totally plausible theory that the bee’s sense of smell years ago stretched miles and allowed them to find flowers which they then pollenated. Now with all the polutants in the air that distance has been cut dramatically and therefore reduced the bee’s ability to create honey and pollenate. Food for thought.
One Aldwych London and the Radisson SAS Edinburgh were declared joint winners of the Considerate Hotel of the Year 2008 Award presented at a Gala Lunch at The Cavendish London on Monday 27th April. Other winners included Vanessa Scott of Strattons, Norfolk – Green Champion of the Year and Crowne Plaza London – The City, Green Team of the Year. Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Professor John Forte OBE and David Burner, Head Concierge at 51 Buckingham Gate, London. For more details see the CHA web site.
My first blog for a while. I am very angry, and yet in the great scheme of things the subject I am furious about doesn’t register highly on the important issues list.
A letter written in today’s DT indicated that at a recent meeting about crime in the community in the West Midlands, when asked to register on a handset if you were male or female, to general amusement a wag asked “What if you are transgendered?” The person chairing the meeting, to much laughter, replied that those people should press buttons A & B. Two days later the “chair” was marched off to the local police station questioned by a sergeant and inspector and given a warning because a complaint had been made about homophobia.
My point is this. Isn’t it about time our intensely PC authorities showed some real leadership and backbone and told whoever came forward with such drivel to stop wasting police time, get out more and get a life. It would be even better if the government of the day scrapped such laws that could be interpreted in this way but then that really is asking too much and I apologise unreservedly for making such an unreasonable suggestion.
Normal service on this blog will now be resumed after this totally out of character outburst.
Congratulations to Well Worth which has just opened in Dorchester, Dorset. The shop is run by the former manager of Woolworth’s which closed around Christmas with a large number of job losses and the new shop has taken over the Woolworth site so no change there then.
The shop has a similar concept to Woolworth but more dynamic, locally focussed and an all things to all people approach. Staff have their jobs back, the locals are in support and I wish Well Worth every success. Well worth going to see, and it appears there is considerable interest in the idea in other parts of the UK.
The heartiest of congratulations to Mat on winning the coveted title of Masterchef 2009. The title is thoroughly deserved and despite tough opposition from Andy and Christopher, the best man won.
Mat lives just up the road (ok, it’s a few country miles but in Dorset that’s nothing!) in Rampisham. We wish Mat continued success and wait to hear where and when he plans to open his restaurant. A queue is forming as we speak.
It is gratifying to see that companies throughout the world have indicated that they do not intend reduce their commitment to CSR in these hard economic times. Whilst there may be those who drop their green travel options because it impacts financially, the commitment to reduce energy costs (pretty sensible), conserve water (similar), support local businesses and communities (why not) and ensure companies wherein they have a business relationship have similar CSR policies in place remains a prime objective.
The annual opinion poll carried out by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and KDS suggested that CSR is very much here to stay. This of course sounds positive. After all you cannot turn CSR off and on like water or gas, and there is enough evidence to show that the application of CSR policies and being both a considerate and responsible hotel operator, can bring in more business. If you are not already, why not give it a try? If you are applying CSR, the future is bright, the future is green, turning to gold.
Saturday 14th February is the final day for entries into the 2008 Considerate Hotel of the Year awards. These highly prestigious awards will be presented at a Gala Lunch on Monday 27th April at The Cavendish London, last year’s winner of the title.
Details of how you can enter can be found in the Awards section of this web site. Don’t be left out and good luck!
My daily newspaper tells me that President Barack Obama has promised that the US would lead the world in tackling climate change. Cleaner energy and the environment are to be at the heart of his domestic agenda.
Obama has a plan. Let’s hope it’s not a cunning plan and unlike Baldrick’s it actually works. So, it’s all down hill from now on with just a few more Continents to recruit and we are home and green!
To all visitors to the Considerate Blog, a very Happy New Year!
I am already tired of the gloom and doom that the so called experts are telling us will be our destiny during the coming year. Surely, when life sends you lemons, make lemonade!
To hoteliers, I would echo the thoughts of Niels Pedersen of Supranational Hotels who says it is time to get back to real hotelkeeping where care and service to guests dominates a hotelkeeper’s agenda. I would however go further and say that now is not the time to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Giant strides have been made over recent years in getting responsible hoteliers to adopt corporate social responsibility (CSR), in many cases setting an example for other industries to follow. That must not change, be sidelined or forgotten. During hard times when everyone is fighting for business in a reduced market, potential guests will be looking for the hotel that stands out from the also rans.
The chosen hotel will be the one that puts guests first, and conducts their business in an ethical, responsible and community supporting way. Their message will shine out in their marketing, their body language and their general demeanour. They will be the ones that succeed rather than survive. They will be the ones that guests remember for all the right reasons. They will be the ones that will rightly feel proud to be called ” A considerate hotelkeeper.”
To all and everyone, a very Happy Christmas and healthy New Year. Bah Humbug to the prophets of doom!
